Seattle (Wash.). Legislative Dept.

The Legislative Department is comprised of the City Council, Office of the City Clerk, Central Staff (policy analysts and budget support), and Administrative Division. The City Council is responsible for setting City-wide policy through the adoption of ordinances and resolutions, overseeing the Executive's implementation of policies and programs, and passing the City budget. The first City Charter created a bicameral legislative branch with a nine-member Board of Aldermen and 16-member House of Delegates. The 1896 Charter returned to a single body of 13 members, elected from 11 wards and two at-large. As the number of wards increased, the number the Council members grew to 18 in 1907. A City Charter Amendment in 1910 reduced the number to nine, all elected at large, and made elections non-partisan. In 1946 Council member terms were increased from two years to four years. The Office of the City Clerk and the Office of the City Auditor became part of the Legislative Department in 1993. In 1999 the Office of the City Auditor became an independent department.

From the guide to the Legislative Department Digital Photograph Collection, 2002 - 2005, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)

The legislative auditing function was added to City Council's Central Staff responsibilities in June 1971 following a Personnel Department study recommending that some system for analyzing City programs be established. The City Council created five full-time positions dedicated to conducting audits. The purpose of the audit function was to provide the Council with objective and independent analysis of City programs, allowing Council a means to monitor programs, finances, and policies.

The staff conducted three types of audits: 1) financial and compliance audits, 2) economy and efficiency audits, and 3) program results and evaluations. Final reports were submitted to the City Council. The Central Staff audit function ended in 1986.

The Office of the Comptroller included an audit division that focused primarily on financial audits (see series 1800-13) from the 1960s until 1993, when the City Auditor function was moved to the Legislative Department and the focus was changed from financial to program audits. In 1999, an independent Office of the City Auditor was created. The records for these auditors are not part of this series.

From the guide to the Seattle Legislative Audits and Special Project Reports, 1972-1986, (City of Seattle Seattle Municipal Archives)